Alien Soulmate (Paranormal Romance Aliens) Read Online Free Page A

either side of his head. His eyes were a deep shade of purple, and he met Ithril's eyes calmly.
    "You summoned, Leader?"
    "Yes," Ithril said, nodding. "I need your help."
    "It is my honor to serve you, Leader," Cain said. His voice was deep and almost inflectionless, which irked Ithril because he could never tell what the man was thinking. But no matter.
    "There are going to be a few changes around here. I have spoken with my brother, and he's decided with me that we can't continue like this."
    Cain blinked slowly. "Like what?"
    "Bowing and scraping to the Des'kos! They come here and steal our land and take our resources without penalty. We just give it to them, and for what?"
    "In exchange for peace."
    Ithril snorted. "Is that what this is? Peace? Forgive me, only I though there were still skirmishes every week. I thought guards were still armed to the teeth with axes and blasters to fend off the ‘rebels' who are supposedly not sanctioned by the Des'kos king. That doesn't sound like peace to me."
    There was no response from Cain, just another slow blink, and Ithril let out a rough breath. He had to stop sounding so angry and start sounding like a leader. A leader's word was law.
    "Like I said. There are going to be some changes. I want you to find people willing to go to the other clans. I'm not stupid enough to think we can do this on our own, and I want to see if there are others who are tired of being under the thumb of barbarians."
    "Very well. We shall find these people. Where is your brother?"
    "Carver's sleeping. It's been a long week for all of us, but him most of all. Trust me when I say, I have his support in this."
    Cain stared at him for a moment, and Ithril willed himself not to flinch or look away. It was early in his leadership, and he had to start establishing his dominance now. They couldn't look at him as Angen's youngest, a hot headed little boy playing at war. No, they had to see him as the leader that he was, that he had been meant to be, and that meant making sure that he was always acting the part.
    "Very well," Cain said finally, inclining his head. "I will spread the word. When will we convene again as a group?"
    He could hear the real question in there. ‘When will Carver be back?' He'd have to come up with something to say to them before they met again.
    "After the evening meal," Ithril decided. "That will give my brother time to sleep, and us time to spend with our sister. She has been taking this hard."
    It was a strategic comment, however true. When he'd gone to speak with E'lira earlier, she'd still been in tears. But he knew that his sister was a soft spot for anyone who had watched her grow up, and the ploy worked. Cain's eyes softened and he nodded again.
    "Until then, Leader."
    Ithril waited until he'd walked away to sag with relief. As much as he believed in his convictions, this was the first time he was even attempting something like this, and he was unsure how well it was going to work.
    Carver was the one who had the plans. He had always been the one to come up with ideas and make sure that they were seen through. He was the one with the quick mind and easy smile that put people at ease while Ithril stood in the background and looked angry or uncomfortable. But he had to get past that. Carver was gone now. His transporter was probably already closing in on Earth, and Ithril had made it so that there was no way for him to get back until he was ready for him to come back.
    Ithril was on his own for the moment, and he had to make it count.
     
    By the time the Council was ready to convene again, he had a plan firmly in his mind. It had taken a lot of thought, and he'd gone for a long walk after lunch, wracking his brain for what he could say to explain Carver's absence. But really, it had been so clear. Their father's passing was the perfect excuse, and secure in his knowledge that no one would be the wiser, he sat down at the head of the table and watched everyone else file in.
    "Will